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British supplement manufacturer Wassen International purchased the British company Efamol for an undisclosed amount in August.1 Efamol produces omega-3 and other essential fatty acid supplements, and its product line includes Efamol® Pure Evening Primrose Oil (derived from the seeds of evening primrose, Oenothera biennis), Efaflex®, and Efamarine®.
“We are delighted that Efamol is now part of the Wassen Group. Efamol has led the way in developing scientifically proven essential fatty acid supplements for over 25 years and we are committed to continuing the company’s excellent clinical research work to further develop the integrity of the brand,” said Michael Barber, chairman of Wassen, according to an article on Natural Products Online.1 Mr. Barber was formerly a managing director of Efamol UK and thus has considerable experience with this line of products (Manku M. e-mail, Oct. 5, 2006.)
Efamol will remain a stand-alone company and its research agenda will not be affected by the acquisition. However, the company will move from its location in North Yorkshire to Wassen’s headquarters in Leatherhead.2 According to the article on Natural Products Online, the acquisition should result in combined sales of over £15 million (equivalent to over $28 million USD), operating across 30 international markets.
Efamol was founded in 1978, originally under the name Primrose Research, by David Horrobin, MD, PhD, a researcher who became interested in the biological benefits of essential fatty acids.3 The Board of Directors of Efamol Holdings later decided to split Efamol into separate nutraceutical and pharmaceutical divisions. The pharmaceutical division, named Scotia Pharmaceuticals, worked to develop gamma linolenic acid (GLA) and other fatty acids as pharmaceuticals and became one of the first biotech companies to be listed on the London Stock Exchange (Manku M, e-mail, Oct. 5, 2006). Dr. Horrobin started another company, Laxdale Ltd, in 1997 to develop naturally-derived pharmaceuticals for psychiatric and neurodegenerative disorders.3
-Courtney Cavaliere
References
1. Wassen acquires leading EFA specialist Efamol. Natural Products Online. August 24, 2006. Available at: http://www.naturalproductsonline.co.uk/industry_news.asp?ItemID=2021&rcid=71&pcid=65&cid=71. Accessed September 22, 2006.
2. Wassen’s acquisition of Efamol expands omega-3 presence. NutraIngredients.com. August 28, 2006. Available at: http://www.nutraingredients.com/news/ng.asp?n=70144&m=1NIE828&c=eusjarssmnalmbb. Accessed September 22, 2006.
3. Manku M, Glen I, McGoldrick S, Duffy F, Boal D, Murck H, Green A. David F. Horrobin 1939-2003. HerbalGram. 2003;58:72.
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